I can no longer change the microphone input in sound settings

Mark Beierl 0 Reputation points
2025-12-05T13:29:28.3066667+00:00

When I go into Settings -> System -> Sound, the options are all greyed out. The steam vr virtual device is selected, but I cannot change it back to the local Jabra USB input device.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Settings
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  1. Q&A Assist
    2025-12-05T13:29:41.2633333+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    If your microphone input options are greyed out in the Sound settings, it could be due to the Steam VR virtual device being selected as the default audio input. Here are some steps you can try to resolve the issue:

    1. Restart the Device: Sometimes, simply restarting your HoloLens or Windows device can reset the audio settings.
    2. Check Device Connections: Ensure that your Jabra USB device is properly connected and recognized by the system. You may want to unplug and replug the device.
    3. Update Drivers: Make sure that the drivers for your Jabra USB device are up to date. You can check for updates through the device manager.
    4. Change Default Device: Go to Settings > System > Sound. If the options are still greyed out, try right-clicking on the sound icon in the taskbar, selecting Sounds, and then navigating to the Recording tab to set your Jabra device as the default.
    5. Check App Permissions: Ensure that the application you are using has permission to access the microphone. This can sometimes restrict the ability to change input devices.
    6. Uninstall Steam VR: If you do not need Steam VR, consider uninstalling it or disabling it to see if that allows you to regain control over the audio input settings.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to look into more specific troubleshooting steps for your device or consult the manufacturer's support resources.

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  2. Ferdinand Nanalig 25,850 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-12-05T14:05:31.3233333+00:00

    Hi, I am an independent Advisor, and welcome to Microsoft Q&A.

    Let me help you with this issue.

    I understand that you are experiencing issues with your microphone being grayed out in the Settings.

    Please follow the steps below.

    Please hover your mouse over the sound icon at the lower right-hand corner, then right-click it and click Troubleshoot Sound. Let the troubleshooter finish its task, then this should either resolve the problem or display an error message.

    If that doesn't work, we need to remove the Audio driver from the Device Manager and restart the PC to reinstall it.

    Here are the steps to completely remove a Device from your computer.

    Step 1. Use shortcut keys Windows key + X.

    Step 2. Select Device Manager.

    Step 3. Expand the entry Sound, Video, and Game Controllers. Right-click the problematic device, which is either Realtek Audio, or AMD High-definition Audio, or High-Definition Audio, depending on the audio device installed in your PC, and select Uninstall device.

    Step 4. You need to check the option Delete the driver software for this device and then click the Uninstall button.

    Step 5. Reboot the computer.

    After the reboot, please see if the problem is fixed.

    If that still does not work, please visit the support website of your laptop or desktop and then download and install the latest Audio driver then restart the PC.

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  3. Mark Beierl 0 Reputation points
    2025-12-05T14:10:52.14+00:00

    The sound settings are all greyed out. I cannot change anything

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